Price Chopper offers donations to match toy contributions

Price Chopper and the Golub Foundation on Monday said they would contribute 50 cents for each toy donated, up to $10,000, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of their annual Holiday Toy Drive that helps the Salvation Army provide gifts to children in need.

The supermarket chain is conducting the toy drive at its stores in partnership with The Salvation Army, Lang Media and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It announced the partnership at a press conference at its Mohawk Mall store in Niskayuna.

“In Schenectady County we had 100 more families apply for Christmas assistance this year,” said Major Jim Guest. “We anticipate providing toys to 1,000 children in Schenectady County alone.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, meanwhile, grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Northeast New York chapter, which covers the 15 counties in the 518 area code, has granted 1,150 wishes since its founding in 1986. It hopes to grant 100 wishes this year, said William C. Trigg III, its chief executive officer.

Trigg said this effort will also benefit seven other Make-A-Wish chapters in areas with Price Chopper supermarkets.

More than 5,000 toys have already been collected, and the drive will continue through the week before Christmas.